Police Utilized AI for Reports, and It Stated the Officer Transformed into a Frog. That's an Issue | Carscoops

      A peculiar police report generated by AI reveals the potential risks of flawed traffic stop records.

      The AI mistakenly reported that an officer transformed into a frog during a traffic stop, highlighting how easily AI can misinterpret ambient sound.

      Inaccurate police reports can have long-lasting repercussions for drivers.

      Traffic stops can be uncomfortable experiences, but an unusual issue has emerged that seems as absurd as the frog officer in the accompanying image. In December, officials in Heber City, Utah, faced the task of clarifying why an AI-generated police report stated an officer had literally transformed into a frog. The source of this error wasn't a cheeky intern or a misbehaving officer, but rather the hallucinations of artificial intelligence.

      The police department was experimenting with AI-driven report-writing software that listens to body camera recordings to automatically create police reports. Unfortunately, the system mistakenly picked up dialogue from the animated film "The Princess and the Frog" playing in the background and incorporated it into the official document.

      “The body cam software and the AI report writing system picked up on the movie that was playing in the background, which happened to be ‘The Princess and the Frog,’” stated Sgt. Keel in an interview with Fox 13. “That’s when we understood the importance of correcting these AI-generated reports.”

      While this incident is undeniably amusing, it raises concerning issues. According to the news outlet, these AI tools are intended to save officers time by converting body camera audio into written reports, theoretically resulting in less paperwork and more time for patrol duties.

      When Software Tells the Tale

      In reality, it means an algorithm is now responsible for interpreting conversations, tones, and background sounds during roadside interactions, including traffic stops that may have long-term impacts on drivers.

      Traffic stops might seem like brief encounters, but the records from these incidents can be permanent. These reports can affect future traffic stops, court cases, insurance claims, license suspensions, and even employment background checks.

      In other words, when AI makes a mistake, it’s not merely a typographical error. It’s misinformation embedded in an official document.

      Close Enough Isn’t Good Enough

      While the error in Heber City was blatant enough to be humorous, what happens when AI misattributes statements, misreads a driver's tone, or inaccurately summarizes the escalation of a stop? Such mistakes can be much more serious.

      Not only might these errors be difficult to detect, but will every officer amend the language that’s similar but potentially more severe than it should be simply because it’s “close enough?”

      For now, it appears that the best approach for everyday drivers is to begin using dashcams and other recording devices to maintain an unaltered record.

      Additionally, requesting body camera footage and reports through the Freedom of Information Act could be crucial. While a frog in a report may be entertaining, your official record with legal authorities is no laughing matter.